Chapter 22: Betrayal?
The Murian exits hyper space above Old Miltia, where the battle between the Federation, the U-TIC, and the Gnosis had occurred.
MOMO: Oh wow…
Ziggy: What's wrong?
His voice came from the back of the Murian. Only MOMO could see the outside.
MOMO: It looks like there was a fight here recently. There are Federation and U-TIC ships everywhere. They're all in shambles.
She continues driving forward and notices some U-TIC ships that were still operational.
MOMO: There are some U-TIC ships up ahead. It seems like they're fighting… the Gnosis!
Jr: They must have been lured here by the Zohar. And they probably wiped out the Federation fleet too. Reinforcements should be here soon, most likely. I don't think the U-TIC is going to stay much longer. We should hurry.
MOMO: I'm going to sneak by them. It shouldn't be too hard. I'm taking us to where we first saw the Zohar.
Snake: And where my little adventure began…
MOMO lands the Murian near the place they first saw the Zohar. It was now in Simeon's hands. There were Vector Personnel, as well as Albedo standing near Simeon and the Zohar, but they provided no resistance. The team exits the Murian and approaches Albedo.
Jr: Albedo!
Albedo: What took you so long? I was getting bored. Heh heh!
Snake: We're not letting you take the Zohar!
Albedo: And how do you plan on stopping me without your precious Android? KOS-MOS, come here.
KOS-MOS begins walking up to Albedo
Shion: KOS-MOS…!
KOS-MOS stops and turns her head around to look at Shion over her shoulder.
KOS-MOS: I am merely following orders. You too will have to go where we're going. You have received the coordinates. I will see you there.
She continues walking toward Albedo.
Shion: KOS-MOS, no!
Snake: I knew we couldn't trust it!
He pulls out his SOCOM and points it at both Albedo and KOS-MOS.
Albedo: You can't hurt us with such a primitive weapon. Why even bother pointing it at us?
Jr: 'Cause he looks cool doing it.
Albedo: Yeah, that's true.
Simeon's cockpit opens and KOS-MOS jumps in.
Shion: No!
The team steps forward, and as they do, a bright light that emerges from the Zohar engulfs them. After the light disperses, they are all on the ground.
Albedo: What happened?
KOS-MOS: There was an energy emission from the Zohar, but I cannot calculate the result.
Albedo: Well, whatever. Let them take a nap. They look like they're still alive. And I don't think our little princess could die so easily.
He says, as he begins walking up to Shion as she lay on the ground.
KOS-MOS: Leave her.
Albedo: Are you protecting her? How touching.
KOS-MOS: There is no time to waste. We must proceed to the Eldridge.
Albedo: You're no fun.
Albedo hops into his Simeon alongside KOS-MOS and signals to the Vector personnel to leave Old Miltia before Federation reinforcements arrive. He then flies off with KOS-MOS and the Zohar, heading towards the Eldridge.
